Truss.



Patented Apr. 8, I902. T. c. SPELLING.

TRUSS.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1902.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR. J. 15. #6414 ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES.-

UNrrn Srn'rns nrnnr FFICE.

THOMAS C. SPELLING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,032, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed January 30, 1902. Serial No. 91,885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known th atI, THOMAS CARL SPELLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trusses, the object of my invention being to provide a modification in the shape and action of the ordinary truss now in use which will have two results-first, reduce the inconvenience of wearing a truss, and, second, more thoroughly and continuously prevent protrusion of the intestine or omentum, and thus increase the efficacy of the truss.

My invention therefore resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts of the truss for the above ends hereinafter fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front perspective View of my improved truss. Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear portion of the end of the truss containing the joint, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the end of the truss containing the joint.

To better comprehend the nature of the invention, it is necessary to state that the supporting portion of the truss nowin generaluse extends around the body over the hips. This results in a degree of difficulty and discomfort to keep the pad of the truss in place owing to the rigidity of the band, its liability to change its horizontal position, due to movement of the skin and muscles under the pad without a corresponding movement of the pad itself. The improvement herein disclosed provides a new pulling-point located in the cavity in front of the hip-bone and resting against the inner edge of the front of the hip bone.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the spring-steel band, having the leather covering 2, the free end of which has attached thereto a strap 3, having the eyelets 4. As generally constructed said steel band is continued all the way around from the point of juncture with the strap 3 up to the pad 5. I

have found, however, that with such con-' struction there occur frequent displacements of said pad from its exact position which it should occupy at the point where pressure is to be applied, such displacements being caused by the movements of the body, and to insure against any displacement Whatever when using prior forms it has been necessary to tighten the band and augment the pressure to the point of great discomfort. Besides other advantages, I would avoid the above dofect by the following construction: The steel band 1, which, together with strap 3, has been heretofore made to extend around the body, now terminates in a sharp bend 6, the end of which, padded or made blunt in some way, presses into the aforesaid cavity, and thus a point of support for the tension on the pad is established nearer to and more nearly on a horizontal line with the pad and its point of contact with the body. To the said last end 6 is connected by a buckle 7 a short strap 8, which is connected with the pad 5. Said pad has on its front side two buttons or studs 9 10, the upper one of which is connected with one of the eyelets 4 of the strap 3, while the lower one 10 is connected with the end of a strap 11, which passes from a point between the middle of the back and the hip under the thigh.

I have found that with this construction, having a joint at the part shown, the pad retains its exact position upon the spot where pressure is to be applied and does this with less pressure, the strap 8 yielding with the motion of the body and the buckle 7 permiting a slight movement of said strap 8 relatively to the band 1. If desired, the strap 8 may be of metal, and other kinds of flexible connection of the strap 8 to the band 1 may be used in the place of the buckle. The portion of the pad which comes in contact with the body may be rounded or sharp or shaped according to the circumstances of each case, and the various parts may be varied in material, size, and length, according to taste or circumstances.

The form of truss described and shown is adapted for hernia or rupture on the left side and will answer, with suitable changes, for a right-side hernia or for a double rupture.

A truss having a spring-metal band extending around the body and pressing against the back and front of the body to hold said band in position, a short strap flexible, joined at hand in the presence of two subscribing witone end to one end of the band and at the nesses. other end carrying a pad for pressing against the body at the point desired and a strap SPELLING' 5 connected to the other end of the band and YVitnesses:

also to the pad, substantially as described. FRANCIS M. WRIGHT,

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my BESSIE GORFINKEL. 

